🎧 Listen to this blog post as a Podcast instead #16 This is why your handmade business is HARD (business lessons part 2)

⭐️ Back for more handmade business help? 

💪 In part two of our business lessons series, we're delving deeper into why entrepreneurship can be tough...especially if you are a handmade business owner 

💙 Join us as we explore the challenges and hurdles that make running a business an uphill battle. From managing setbacks to navigating uncertainty, we're here to shed light on the realities of the handmade business owners journey. 💙 

📻 Tune in for another dose of invaluable insights to help you navigate the ups and downs of handmade business ownership.

💸 If you're selling online through platforms like Etsy, Amazon handmade, goimagine or have your own website this episode will help you.

🔗 Link to the BIG maker mindset workshop 👉 Click here

Business Lesson 1: Don't Be Afraid to Speak Out

As a handmade business owner, it's important to be willing to speak up about things you feel strongly about, even if it might upset some people. Being visible online means being visible to the wrong people sometimes - those who may not like you or what you have to say. But the reality is, no matter what you do, there will always be people who find reasons to dislike you.

Instead of trying to stay within the lines and avoid ruffling any feathers, it's better to be authentic and stand up for what you believe in. This doesn't mean you should deliberately set out to hurt or offend anyone. But speaking your truth, even on controversial topics within your industry, can actually help you build more trust and connection with your audience.

• Start small by speaking out about trends or industry practices you disagree with.
• Don't be afraid to call out misleading or unethical behaviour, as long as you do so respectfully.
• Remember that you can't please everyone, so focus on being true to yourself and your values… This is a lesson I have learnt in my personal life and handmade business.

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Business Lesson 2: Be the Dumbest Person in the Room

One of the best things I've done for my handmade business is to hire people who are smarter and more capable than me in certain areas. As a business owner, it's important to be honest about your strengths and weaknesses, and to surround yourself with a team that can fill in the gaps.

I used to try to do everything myself, from writing blog posts to editing videos for my social media accounts. But I quickly realised that these tasks were draining me and preventing me from showing up at my best for the parts of the business I truly excel at..being creative. By outsourcing or delegating these types of tasks, I'm able to focus on my zone of genius and let my team handle the rest.

This doesn't mean you have to hire a full team right away. Even bringing on a virtual assistant or an online business manager can make a huge difference. The key is to identify the areas where you're not your best self, and find ways to simplify or outsource those tasks.

• Assess your strengths and weaknesses honestly, and look for ways to lean into your strengths.
• Consider hiring an online business manager or virtual assistant to help with tasks you dislike or aren't great at.
• Don't be afraid to eliminate or automate certain tasks that are draining your energy and resources in your business.

Business Lesson 3: Ride the Wave of Your Body's Natural Rhythms

One of the biggest challenges of running a handmade business is learning to work in harmony with your body's natural energy patterns, rather than trying to force yourself into a rigid schedule.

From a young age, we're conditioned to view time in a very linear way - Monday to Friday, 9 to 5. But the reality is, our bodies don't operate on that kind of schedule. We all have natural ebbs and flows to our energy and productivity levels throughout the day, week, and even month.

When I first started my jewellery business, I tried to force myself into a traditional work schedule, and it was completely draining. By 2-3pm each day, I was struggling to stay awake and making mistakes. It wasn't until I started paying attention to my body's natural rhythms that I was able to find a more sustainable way of working. Helping me to avoid burn out and look after my mental health.

For me, that looks like being a morning person who is most productive and energised in the early hours, but then experiences a dip in the mid-afternoon. I've learned to honour that pattern by structuring my days and weeks accordingly. I do my most important, high-energy tasks in the mornings, and then allow myself to rest or do more administrative work in the afternoons when my energy is lower.

If you have a menstrual cycle, I highly recommend reading the book In the Flow by Alisa Vitti. It can be incredibly enlightening to understand how your hormonal cycle affects your energy, focus, and productivity throughout the month.

• Pay attention to your body's natural energy patterns throughout the day, week, and month.
• Experiment with a more flexible, responsive work schedule that aligns with your rhythms.
• Consider how your menstrual cycle (if applicable) may be impacting your energy and productivity.

Business Lesson 4: Learn to Live Alongside the Chaos

As a handmade business owner, it's important to learn how to live and work alongside the inevitable chaos and challenges that will arise. It happens to us all! Whether it's dealing with anxiety, health issues, family emergencies, or just the general unpredictability of running a business, the key is to avoid letting these things completely derail you. 

I used to be the type of person who would put everything on hold whenever I was feeling anxious or stressed. I'd cancel plans, stop working on my business, and basically just wait for the chaos to pass before trying to get back on track. But I've learned that this approach is not sustainable, and it often just prolongs the problem.

Instead, I've found that it's much more empowering to learn to hold the chaos lightly, and to continue moving forward even when things feel difficult. This doesn't mean ignoring your mental health or pushing yourself beyond your limits. It simply means acknowledging the challenges, but not letting them completely derail your progress.

For me, this has looked like being more willing to be vulnerable and transparent with my audience when I'm struggling. I've learned that people actually really appreciate this honesty, and it helps me to feel less alone in the process. It also means I can be more flexible and adaptable in my work schedule, and not beating myself up when I need to take a step back or change plans.

The reality is, life is messy and unpredictable. But by learning to live alongside the chaos, rather than trying to control or eliminate it, you can build a more sustainable and fulfilling handmade business.

• Acknowledge the challenges and chaos that come with running a creative business, but don't let them completely derail you.
• Be willing to be vulnerable and transparent with your audience when you're struggling.
• Cultivate flexibility and adaptability in your work schedule and processes.

At the end of the day, running a handmade business is not easy. There will always be challenges, obstacles, and moments of chaos. But by embracing these lessons - speaking your truth, surrounding yourself with the right people, honouring your body's rhythms, and learning to live alongside the chaos - you can build a thriving, sustainable business that aligns with your values and brings you joy.

Love Steph xox

🥳Do you want to learn more? We’ve got loads of resources to help you scale your handmade business:

1️⃣✨Just starting out? Here's my best resources:👉 Start here  🏃

2️⃣✨Want to be visible and get more traffic? Here's my recommendations: 👉Get noticed 👀

3️⃣✨Ready to grow your business? Here's your to-do list: 👉 Grow here 📈

👇🏻👇🏻Choose your own adventure with these resources👇🏻👇🏻

✨My book “how to be a handmade boss” is like a super intensive course on getting your first sales (plus, it’s a book/workbook hybrid!) 👉  Find out more here

✨Shop not doing so great? Getting views but no sales? No views at all? Overwhelmed with it all? Check out the shop doctor: 👉 Join here

✨My highly rated FREE masterclass on how to increase your Etsy conversion rate is the KEY thing most Etsy sellers miss when trying to make more money and get more sales in 7 days. 👉 Join here

✨Listen to my chart-topping podcast for an unfiltered and honest view as to what it takes to grow a handmade business 👉 Listen here 🎧 Whether you’re a complete beginner on Etsy, or want to scale your handmade business to multi-6 figures, the “How To Be A Handmade Boss” podcast gives you actionable advice and workshop style episodes to grow your handmade business on Etsy, your own website and beyond

✨I’m live most Mondays in my Facebook group with our Monday Momentum lives. These include coffee chats & mini workshops to help you make more money from your handmade business! You can see our upcoming events here: 👉 See future events here

✨Our YouTube channel is full of hundreds of super informative videos, with help and advice you can put into action straight away .📺

✨More Blog Posts - Don't forget to check out more blog posts from Handmade Bosses 🖥️

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